Abrahamic Religions

 

This essay will examine common roots and differences of Abrahamic religions which consist of such religions as Christianity, Islam, Judaism and some other smaller religions. Abrahamic religions are also called religions of revelation, because the core of their teachings is based on Revelation - "self-revelation of the Divine and shout out its will of man" (A. Men’). The primary written source of Abrahamic religions is the Torah (Pentateuch). These religions are often called monotheistic as their main similarity is in accepting the one God, but only two of them, Christianity and Islam are considered to be world great religions and Judaism is not included as it is confessed by only one nation. However, Judaism is considered to be the first Abrahamic religion and fundamental for other two. Nowadays, there is a strong debate of Abrahamic religions having more differences than common aspects and in this essay I will try to illustrate modern scientific view on the problem, analyze it and conclude my own opinion. The topic given is quite relevant because despite the important role played by the Abrahamic religions in modern society, perceptions of them, prevalent in the mass consciousness, remain extremely superficial and stereotypical. Despite numerous studies, there is still lack of a comparative study of these religions. This is largely due to the long period of domination of forced atheism, objective study of the phenomenon of religion, including the Abrahamic religions, was denied in the right to exist. So it is understandable that foreign religious comparative works are developed much deeper. Nevertheless, the relevance of the theme is determined not only by its lack of studies in Russia, but mainly, by the need to identify the basic structure of the Abrahamic religions, providing their spiritual unity, identifing common and specific features inherent in each religion.

 

In my opinion there is more similarities than differences among Abrahamic religions and the main purpose of this work is to illustrate some of the aspects to argue fir this point of view. These are some statements to be defeated and studied in this essay: common patterns of Abrahamic religions are monotheism; the presence of dogma; personal understanding of God; the line of time and idea’s history; understanding of the divine creation of the world from nothing (creationism); all Abrahamic religions are religions of the sacred writings (based on the texts of scripture); the most important factor in forming of the Abrahamic religions is the basic religious experience of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, which is prophetic in nature.

 

The existence of the doctrine begins with a base of religious experience, the content of which is then subjected to the process of interpretation. Lives, comments, religious leadership (such as liturgy in Christianity) appear during this process. As was mentioned earlier, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are equally a religions of text books of revelation which have been obtained only through religious experience of communication with God. Primary spiritual experience of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, according to tradition, formed the basis of the principles religions they have created. So, all the Abrahamic religions rightfully called religions of revelation. They are also a dogmatic religions because religious experience of their founders is mediated by the system of dogmatically outlined doctrine. Christianity has the greatest degree of dogmatizing among the Abrahamic religions. Another common feature is that all three Abrahamic religions are monotheistic systems in which God created all things "out of nothing"; emphasizes nature of the God and the world as the Creator and the creature. However, Judaism and Islam in the full and literal sense are monotheistic, but Christianity assimilated not only Jewish, but also Hellenistic philosophical ideas. In all Abrahamic religions there are line of time and the history of idea. Main phases of the historical process constitute the Fall, the arrival of the Messiah, the Final Trial, the resurrection of the dead and the reconstruction of the paradisiacal state. In this sense, we must accept that Judaism defines a common paradigm for all Abrahamic religions. Despite all the major differences between the Abrahamic religions, it is clear that these three religions are one and the same type of religiosity and are both in typological and genetically relation. There is no doubt, the role of the biblical paradigm and religious parameters specified by biblical, Old Testament revelation in all three preceding religions is overall. The next question is how Abrahamic religions’ principals do interact with changing social practice. Islamic tradition in this sense provides the most striking example: it claims divine law to be literally equal to the law of society, Koranic normativity – to social normativity. Catholic and Orthodox traditions in Christianity, clearly distinguish the supreme spirit and simplified one’s morality. Yet they paid, each in its own way, a lot of attention to both states. Christianity developed the theory of both - divine and earthly existence; interest in human history, the secular political system, a social organization. After the Reformation, the actual social issues in Christianity in general came to the first plan.

 

The common features of the Abrahamic religions described above are only a part of the aspects that can be used to compare these three religions. But it is assumed that the most important common root of Abrahamic religions is their forefather - Abraham. In this section I will consider the story of Abraham in its Jewish and Islamic exposition; its alternatives, given the subsequent independent development of Judaism and Islam. These two religions in many ways are similar to each other in their traditions and laws, divided today by a considerable number of prejudices and mutual claims. Territorial conflict between Israel and the Palestinians often takes a religious coloring. Claiming their rights to the Holy Land, located between the Sinai and the Golan Heights, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, the two sides refer to the promises and prohibitions of their sacred books. It is often ignored that there is an unbreakable connection between these confessions. Most of the prophets before Muhammad mentioned in the Islamic tradition, were "borrowed" from Judaism. Among them, of course, Abraham (in the Islamic tradition - Ibrahim). Largely thanks to him, Islam sees itself not as a new religion, but as a return to the old. Abraham for the first time after Adam returned to strict monotheism, being the only in all the land, who knows and loves God. In the Qur'an emphasizes that he was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but Hanif (the faithful - not pagan). The sons of Abraham are continuing his ministry. However, unlike Judaism, Islam puts forward in the first place not Isaac, but his half-brother Ishmael (in Islamic tradition - Ismail). History triangle Abraham - Isaac - Ismail was one of the most painful and tragic in the life of Abraham, however, as the history of the second triangle, Abraham - Sarah - Hagar. This story - evidence that Abraham and Sarah were just people with ability to fail once. And in their lives, however, as in the life of each person had their own failures and defeats. Error committed by Abraham and Sarah in relation to Hagar and Ishmael, written entire volumes. Some of the sages openly blame Sarah of abusing Hagar. In the Torah there is no open condemnation of the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael into the desert, because this act was given permission from above, but by the midrashic comments it can be seen how this story is weighed down the Jewish sages. By the way, not the Torah, but midrash, in the opinion of most modern academics, became the source of most of the Quranic stories about the creation of the world and of the prophets. In the Torah concubine of Abraham, Hagar, Sarah banished from the house together with Ismail, wanders far from Beersheba, and finds there a well, but, according to Islamic tradition, they go to Mecca. There God creates for them a stream of Zamzam. In memory of this event every year pilgrims during the Hajj coming to this place. Later, Abraham and Ishmael in Mecca reconstruct the temple built by Adam. Here the first monotheist going to sacrifice his son at God's command. According to the Torah, Isaac must be brought to the sacrifice. The Qur'an does not tell clearly about what son is needed to be sacrificed. Early theologians of Islam still arguing about whether it was Isaac or Ishmael, but for modern Muslims that is Ismail. Unlike Judaism, which is constantly emphasized that it was Sarah's son Isaac has to become the adept of his father, in modern Islam God's promises to Abraham, usually attributed to the son of Hagar. Despite this, Isaac, Jacob and his descendants (Jakub), Joseph (Yusuf) and others, including the Jewish kings David (Daud) and Solomon (Suleiman) are wonderfully honored as "true monotheists." In Judaism and Islam, besides a written teachings (Torah and the Qur’an) there is oral teaching, which is a heritage of the sages of Judaism (Mishna, Talmud, Midrash), and Islam - a heritage of the closest adepts of Muhammad (Hadith). In both cases, the oral teachings were written after much doubt and hesitation, but then flowed in the lives of believers and became even more important than written doctrine. Like Judaism after the destruction of the Second Temple, Islam does not know the profession of priests. Adepts of Islam and Judaism are not the priests and monks, they are the people who study the Law send by the God. Unified education system and Arabic language that unites the entire Islamic world as the language of worship, law and science, is also very similar to the Jewish tradition. As for the rituals, the Law of Moses, which is although facilitated by Muhammad, but remains in force in most cases, whether it is the dietary restrictions and prohibitions eat pork, a ritual bath, on the regulation of family life or prayers and positions. One of the great acts of Muhammad was the reform of marriage and improving the status of Arab women. In general, he accepted biblical laws concerning forbidden marriages. In many cases, you can also talk about the influence of ancient traditions, common to both Jews and Arabs, as, for example, in relation to the ritual of circumcision practiced by both religions. Judaism and Islam have much in common starting with the central theological principles. This are two absolutely monotheistic religion based on the belief in one God who created the world in prophecy, in the election. They both see the destiny of man in this world by God's commandments according to a particular system, called in Judaism "halacha" and in Islam - "sharia". This legal system in both religions is intended to embody monotheistic outlook in everyday life of each person. Rigid monotheism of the Torah is stored in the Qur'an and even claim with even greater energy. Moses (Musa) is one of the dominant figures in the Qur'an. Stories about him are not limited to any one chapter, but run through the whole book.

 

"Abrahamic religions" is the common name for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For the followers of the three religions, the biblical patriarch Abraham, who believed in one God and did the covenant with him, is an example of a believer. Jews and Arabs are tracing their origins to the sons of Abraham - respectively, to Isaac and Ishmael. The apostle Paul calls Abraham "the father of all believers" justified by God for the faith long before the give of the Law. According to this criteria, in the opinion of apostle Paul, God justifies everyone else, including the pagans, which believed in Jesus Christ. In the Qur'an, Abraham (Ibrahim) is one of the main figures. Muslims praise him as a "friend of God", the Prophet and the first Muslim because he "gave himself to God," which in Arabic corresponds to the adoption of Islam. Strict monotheism and construction began confession of monotheism to Abraham are not only common features of the three religions. Common for Abrahamic religions are also the doctrine of creation out of nothing made by God (creationism), the idea of God as a transcendent to world and at the same time close to everyone. Despite the difficult history of relations between the three religions' traditions, the closeness of Judaism, Christianity and Islam is often aware by their followers.

 

 

In the XX century the position of the Catholic Church on this issue is reflected in the documents of Vatican II. The declaration of the relation of the Church to the non-christianic religions emphasized respect for Muslims' worship to the one God, existing and perfect being, merciful and powerful, Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to the people », and confirmed the connection to Judaism:" The Church of Christ acknowledges that the first fruits of it's faith and election are found on the saving mystery of God, already have the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets»

 

 

Bibliography:

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Materials from lectures on Monotheism, Christianity and Islam

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Bible: The Old Testament, Genesis Chapters 12-25

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Lewis B. “Cultures in Conflict: Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Age of Discovery”, 1995

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BBC Articles on Abraham’s life, 2009

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Harvard University “God: Biblical Monotheism”, 2013

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Oxford University Press, “The Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible”, 2001

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Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Monotheism”